page_title: James Montgomrey
section_title: Timber mill
hierarchical_section_title: James Montgomrey / Timber mill
caption_attribution_description: Brentford to the west of London where the River Brent meets the River Thames.
context_page_description: James Montgomrey ran a large timber mill in Brentford, West London, that was in the family for 120 years. He also led the development of considerable infrastructure in the town to enhance public amenity.
context_section_description: The family's timber mill was located at Montgomrey's Wharf, close to the River Thames and with frontages on Brentford High Street, the River Brent and the Grand Junction Canal. James Snr's cousin William Anthony was first involved in the timber yard in the late 18th century and James Snr entered the business in 1806. He brought James into the partnership in 1836. It remained in the family until 1911, with James' son Archibald Sim Montgomrey being the last proprietor. In James' tenure it was considered to be the largest timber yard in Middlesex and supplied products to surrounding counties. He introduced steam-powered machinery in 1843.
  In 1855, James sold part of his land to enable construction of Brentford Dock, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel to link the Great Western Railway with the Thames. This brought him unprecedented access to the new national rail network for delivery of his timber products.
caption: Brentford in 1856. Montgomrey's island, to the east of Syon Park, would become Brentford Dock
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